In this essay, Father Abraham functions as a sort of mouthpiece for Poor Richard and Benjamin Franklin, preaching about the value of industry and hard work. Not only can industry result in productivity and possibly, increased wealth, it can also result in a higher moral state. According to Father Abraham, the hardworking are blessed and they will most certainly be rewarded. That the reward is not always monetary may explain why the crowd who invited Father Abraham to share his views in the first place disperses and acts contrary to the advice he has offered them.

Father Abraham advocates for industry and hard work by condemning sloth and laziness. In particular, he criticizes the habit of oversleeping. He quotes Poor Richard while making his case for diligence; aphorisms like “keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee” (8), “trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease” (7), and “since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour” (7) all communicate to the audience variations on the theme.